US pop and country star Ronald Eugene Dove, known professionally as Ronnie Dove, was born on 7 September 1935 in Herndon, Virginia. He began his musical career while serving in the US Coast Guard, performing in Baltimore clubs and forming the group The Belltones. In 1964, he signed with Diamond Records and released his debut solo single "Sweeter Than Sugar", followed by "Say You", which reached number 40 on the Billboard Hot 100. His version of Wanda Jackson's "Right Or Wrong" entered the Top 20, marking a significant breakthrough. He continued to release successful singles such as "Cry", "Happy Summer Days", (1966), and "My Babe" (1967), appearing on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1967 to perform "Cry". In 1970, Diamond Records was sold to Certron Records, with whom he released a live album and several singles. After Certron's bankruptcy in 1971, he signed with Decca Records and shifted his focus to country music, achieving minor chart success. He later worked with Melodyland, the country division of Motown, and had his biggest country hit with a cover of Bobby Darin's "Things" in 1975. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, he continued recording with various independent labels and opened his own club in Baltimore. He carried on performing throughout the 1990s, and in 2018, Ronnie Dove Music digitally re-released his album Cry. By 2021, all his Diamond Records albums were available digitally. He retired from performing in 2023 after his final show on May 14.
